Sony’s newest handheld wowed gamers and analysts alike at this year’s E3. The PlayStation Vita is the successor to the “sort of successful” PlayStation Portable, and sports some truly amazing features all in the palm of your hands. The system has a large and beautifully detailed screen complete with touch functionality, as well as a tracking pad on the back. It has pretty much the same design and button layout as the PSP, but the PSV has one major improvement: a second analog stick. Coupled with the stunning power and graphics of the system, gamers can finally have a truly console-like experience, all on the go.
Then again, you probably knew all of that. After the big announcement, the question was: what will the price be? That was answered, as it will release for $250 in the US for the basic WiFi model, and $300 for the WiFi/3G model. Specific details on how 3G payment plans will work are unreleased, but it will require some type of arrangement with AT&T. The next issue: when do we get to play it?
The Vita will be hitting US, European and Latin American shelves on February 22nd, 2012, and Australian shelves the following day, on the 23rd. All of this comes after the much earlier December 17th release in Japan. The last remaining question is: what games will it launch with? This is probably the most important question, as software is what really sells the hardware, especially at launch.
Japan has confirmed to have great games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 at launch, but no word on the international release. In order to be successful I think the Vita needs Uncharted, probably MvC, one solid FPS complete with multiplayer and a racing game, probably WipeOut, with multiplayer as well. A handheld with dual analog sticks is unprecedented, and judging from the previews I have seen, an FPS will actually work. Let us know what you think in the comments below! Do you plan on buying a Vita?
